A lot of folks complain about higher oil prices because of what they pay at the gas pump. But those higher costs for crude also is helping many Oklahoma towns, including the Route 66 burg of Sayre, reports the Daily Oklahoman.

Besides the [Western] technology center, Sayre has a branch of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, ground will be broken soon on a new hospital, a private prison south of town has reopened, and there are plans to refurbish the old downtown movie theater into a performance hall. Residents are gearing up for Sayre’s fall Hoot & Scoot, the town’s big annual festival of music, car shows, food and games.

Business at Gary Coulter’s appliance store has risen 10 percent to 25 percent a year for several years.

“There’s a lot of money floating around right now,” said Coulter, who’s also chamber president.

And the trend of people moving from rural areas such as Sayre seems to have reversed.

“You see a lot of double-wides being brought in,” he said.

Featured prominently in the article are Renee Russell and her husband, who moved from Los Angeles to Sayre 13 years ago after buying the well-preserved Western Motel on 66.

The allure of old Route 66, which runs right down Main Street, seems only to grow. Bicyclists often can be seen cranking down the “Mother Road,” strings of Harleys and other bikers rumble through regularly, and classic car enthusiasts keep coming. A few years back, a group of tourists from Europe filled the Russells’ Western Motel, whose classic sign has been featured in magazines as far away as England, owner Russell said.